Castroneves Earnes Record Payday

Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, smiles as he answers a question at a press conference in preparation for the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

By AP&nbsp|&nbsp

Posted: Mon 6:26 PM, May 25, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Helio Castroneves has earned a record $3,048,005 for his third Indianapolis 500 victory.

The prize money from Sunday's race was announced at the annualvictory dinner Monday night, and Castroneves' share for Team Penskebroke the former record of $2.99 million to Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon last year. The total purse of $14.3 million was just short of the record $14.4 million last year.

Runner-up Dan Wheldon received $1.26 million, just under the second-place record $1.27 million to Vitor Meira a year ago. Danica Patrick took home $763,305 for third place and Townsend Bell received $445,305 for fourth.

The $3 million first prize, the largest in auto racing history, boosted Castroneves' career winnings in nine races at Indianapolis to a record $8,663,628.

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